PhD - student Femtosecond Electrochemistry

Organisation/Company: AMOLF
Research Field:
Chemistry
First Stage Researcher (R1)
Country:
Netherlands
Final date to receive applications: 16 Dec 2025 22:59 UTC
Type of

Contract:

Permanent
Job Status:
Full-time
EU Research Framework Programme:
Not funded
Research

Infrastructure: No

Offer Description
Work Activities
The world is facing a tremendous challenge in limiting global warming from the burning of fossil fuels. Over the last decades, progress has been made in harvesting sustainable energy with solar panels and wind turbines. To build an energy‑sustainable society, we also need efficient storage of this energy, for example by converting electricity produced by the sun or wind into high‑energy chemical compounds such as hydrogen or methanol via electrochemical processes.

Existing electrochemical devices have low efficiencies and cannot be scaled up to large quantities, creating a need for novel electro‑chemical devices that are much more efficient and usable at scale. A more fundamental understanding of the working mechanism of electro‑chemical devices is required.

In this project you will study the molecular structure of aqueous electrolyte solutions near electrode surfaces using advanced ultrafast spectroscopic techniques. One technique employed is femtosecond surface sum‑frequency generation. The measured signal provides direct information on the vibrations of molecules at the surface and on the orientation of the vibrational groups, allowing a detailed understanding of how the structure of water, dissolved molecules and ions near the electrode surface depends on solution composition, electrode material and applied bias.

Next, the dynamics of the molecules during the electrochemical reaction will be examined to identify reactive intermediates with time‑resolved surface sum‑frequency generation.

The research will be carried out in close collaboration with other PhD students and post‑docs in the Ultrafast Spectroscopy group of Prof. dr. H.J. Bakker. We will also work closely with the Theory group of Dr.

B. Ensing at the University of Amsterdam and the electro‑chemistry group of Prof. dr. M. Koper at the University of Leiden.

Qualifications
Masters degree in Physics or Physical Chemistry

Work environment
AMOLF is part of NWO‑I and conducts leading fundamental research on the physics of complex forms of matter and the creation of new functional materials in partnership with academia and industry. The institute is located at Amsterdam Science Park and currently employs about 140 researchers and 80 support employees.(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..nl

Working conditions

The working atmosphere is largely determined by young, enthusiastic, mostly foreign employees. Communication is informal and runs through short lines of communication.

The position is intended as full‑time (40 hours / week, 12 months / year) appointment in the service of the Netherlands Foundation of Scientific Research Institutes (NWO‑I) for the duration of four years.

After successful completion of the PhD research a PhD degree will be granted at a Dutch University.

Several courses are offered, specially developed for PhD‑students.

AMOLF assists any new foreign PhD‑student with housing and visa applications and compensates their transport costs and furnishing expenses.

More information?
For further information about the position, please contact Huib Bakker: h.bakker and .

Application
You can respond to this vacancy online via the button below. Online screening may be part of the selection. Commercial activities in response to this ad are not appreciated.

Diversity code
AMOLF is highly committed to an inclusive and diverse work environment: we want to develop talent and creativity by bringing together people from different backgrounds and cultures. We recruit and select on the basis of competencies and talents. We strongly encourage anyone with the right qualifications to apply for the vacancy, regardless of age, gender, origin, sexual orientation or physical ability.

AMOLF has won the NNV Diversity Award 2022, awarded every two years by the Netherlands Physical Society for demonstrating the most successful implementation of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI).

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